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His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama consecrated Jamyang Choling Institute’s new assembly hall, in Gharoh Odder, Dharamsala on May 16, 2009. It was great honor, and we were very fortunate that His Holiness came to bless and consecrate the new temple despite of his very busy schedule. His Holiness also gave advice and imparted profound teachings on several important verses from Arya Nagarjuna’s eloquent treatise, “The Fundamental Wisdom” (“Mula-madhyamaka”).   

Geshe Tsultrim Gyatso, the Director and Co-Director, Ven. Tenzin Lhadron, all the teachers, and students greeted His Holiness by offering traditional white scarves (khata) and flowers. His Holiness arrived at Jamyang Choling Institute at 10 am to consecrate the new temple and bless the shrine inside the temple by lighting a butter lamp in front of the main shrine’s statue of Buddha Sakyamuni.

After His Holiness was seated, our chanting master Ven. Rinchen Pal led prayers followed by offering mandala to His Holiness and sweet rice and tea for all the guests. Then, His Holiness imparted teaching. He advised the nuns to study continuously, work hard, and eventually return to different regions of the Himalayas where most of the nuns come from in order to serve the nuns and people there by teaching and sharing what they have learned at Jamyang Choling.  

Part of His Holiness teaching was “The essence of the teachings of Lord Buddha is the “Perfection of Wisdom Scriptures”, the chief content of which is the reality of dependent origination. So, in order to bring the reality of dependent origination to the fore, Arya Nagarjuna composed the eloquent treatise “The Fundamental Wisdom” (“Mula-madhyamaka”). At the end of this treatise, recollecting the kindness of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, Nagarjuna, wrote this verse of praise and salutation: 

“At the same time, the Himalayan regions have remained free. They practice the same spiritual tradition as we Tibetans, for Buddhism spread to the Himalayan regions via Tibet. In the Himalayan regions the spiritual tradition, rooted in the actual teachings of the Buddha (Kangyur) and the commentaries on those teachings by Indian masters (Tengyur), is the same. The Himalayan regions including Bhutan and Northern region of Nepal share the same Buddhist tradition”. 

After the teaching, Ven. Tenzin Lhadron expressed gratitude and paid deepest respects to His Holiness as well as welcome address to all the guests. We were also very fortunate to have been able to arrange graduation certificates for the three senior classes. Minister of Religion Department, Ven. Tsering Phuntsok, gave graduation certificate for a Master of Madhyamika Buddhist Philosophy and a Master of Prajnaparamita Buddhist Philosophy.   

We had the opportunity to offer lunch for His Holiness at the Institute.  A simple lunch was also served for all the guests.   

 

Honorable distinguished guests present at the consecration ceremony included Ven. Tsering Phunstsok (Minister for Department of Religious and Culture Affairs), other ministers of various departments of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Ms. Dolma Gyari (deputy speaker of the Assembly of Tibetan People), Director Ms. Rinchen Khadro-la, and Co-director Ven. Lobsang Dechen of the Tibetan Nuns Project. Representatives of monasteries and nunneries around Dharamsala, local Indian village leaders and villagers of Gharoh Odder, head nun of Jampa Choling Nunnery in Kinnaur, and a few other nuns from Kinnaur, Spiti and Ladakh and were also with us for the event. 

 

 

Also it was great honor to have Honorable distinguished guests Mrs. Khandro Chazotsang (His Holiness niece) from Utah in the USA and Ms. Camilla Solholm from Norway, long time friends and supporters of Jamyang Choling Institute presence with us at this remarkable event. 

Gifts of gratitude from the nuns were also presented at His Holiness presence by the Ven. Tsering Phunstsok (Minister for Department of Religious and Culture Affairs), to all the philosophy teachers from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and founder of Jamyang Choling Institute, Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, other supporters including Ms. Camilla Solholm from Norway. 

The presence of His Holiness was a marvelous life dream for all the nuns, and we feel extremely blessed!

 
Although the weather was little hot, many people from McLeod Ganj and the local Indian villagers turned up and joined us in the celebration. There were around 800 people gathered for the event. 

I hope that friends and supporters of Jamyang Choling Institute get time to read the wonderful news and enjoy the photos on our website.  

With whole heartfelt joy!

Tenzin Lhadron